Mandaviya hails Ayush Verma's gold in Shot Put F53 at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
Ayush Verma clinched gold in the Men's Shot Put F53 Final at the Asian Para Games 2026 with an 8.16m throw. Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya celebrated the achievement on X, highlighting India's growing strength in para athletics on the continental stage.
Key Takeaways
Ayush Verma won gold in the Men's Shot Put F53 Final at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
His winning throw measured 8.16 metres .
Union Labour and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated Verma on October 21, 2026 .
The F53 category is for seated field athletes with limited trunk function.
India has participated in the Asian Para Games since at least Jakarta 2018 , building its para-sport contingent across editions.
Government policy has directed dedicated funding toward para athlete training and international competition participation.
An 8.16-metre throw. That is all it took for Ayush Verma to plant India's flag at the top of the podium in the Men's Shot Put F53 Final at the Asian Para Games 2026 — and Union Labour and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya was quick to celebrate the moment on Wednesday, October 21.
Verma's golden throw in the F53 category
The F53 classification covers seated field athletes with limited trunk function, making every competition a test of upper-body power and precision technique. Verma's 8.16m effort in the Shot Put final was enough to secure gold — India's colour at the top of the continental para athletics standings. Mandaviya posted on X: 'GOLD FOR BHARAT! Heartiest congratulations to Ayush Verma on clinching Gold in the Men's Shot Put F53 Final at the Asian Para Games 2026 with an impressive throw of 8.16m!'
India's expanding footprint in para athletics
India has been building its para-sport presence steadily across successive editions of the Asian Para Games, fielding contingents at Jakarta 2018 and Hangzhou 2022. Government policy under the Sports Ministry has channelled dedicated funding toward training infrastructure and international participation for para athletes, a push that results like Verma's help validate on the continental stage.
Victories in classified field events such as Shot Put F53 rarely dominate headlines — but they represent the unglamorous, disciplined grind that defines para athletics at its best. Each gold adds to a cumulative medal tally that India's sporting establishment watches closely as a barometer of how deep the country's para-sports pipeline now runs.
Point of View
Normalising para athletics within mainstream sporting discourse. India's consistent Asian Para Games participation since 2018 reflects a deliberate Sports Ministry push to deepen the para-sport pipeline beyond marquee events like the Paralympics. Gold medals in technical classified events such as Shot Put F53 serve as proof-of-concept for that investment. The political dividend is modest but cumulative: each celebrated win reinforces the government's 'Fit India' and inclusive-sport narrative ahead of future Games cycles.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ayush Verma, the para athlete who won gold at Asian Para Games 2026?
Ayush Verma is an Indian para athlete who competed in the Men's Shot Put F53 category at the Asian Para Games 2026, winning gold with a throw of 8.16 metres.
What is the F53 classification in para athletics?
The F53 classification covers seated field athletes — typically those with limited trunk function — who compete in throwing events such as shot put from a fixed seated position.
What did Mansukh Mandaviya say about Ayush Verma's gold medal?
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya posted on X calling it 'GOLD FOR BHARAT' and extended 'heartiest congratulations' to Verma for the 8.16m throw in the Men's Shot Put F53 Final.
When and where is the Asian Para Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Para Games 2026 is a multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities held under the Asian Paralympic Committee. The specific venue details for the 2026 edition have not been confirmed in available information.
How has India performed at past Asian Para Games?
India has fielded para athlete contingents at multiple editions of the Asian Para Games, including Jakarta 2018 and Hangzhou 2022, steadily expanding its participation and medal presence in para athletics.
